ST. PAUL  (AP) -- Legislation allowing Minnesota liquor stores to open on Sundays has moved along in the state Senate despite opposition from the dominant liquor lobby.

The Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection voted 8-7 on Wednesday to advance the bill to another committee. It would lift a long-standing ban on stores selling booze on Sundays, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The committee took testimony from a few store owners who said they would welcome the change and just as many who said it would add to overhead costs with only negligible upticks in sales. The Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association is opposed.

Duluth Sen. Roger Reinert said Minnesota stores are at a disadvantage because border states don't have the Sunday restrictions. A companion bill hasn't received a House hearing yet.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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